All are invited to a 7:00 p.m. Tridentine Sung Mass on May 1, the Feast of St. Joseph the Workman, followed by St. Joseph Devotions, Outdoor Candlelight Procession and Veneration of St. Joseph's Relic.

The Mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph Church by Fr. Joseph Tuskiewicz. The St. Joseph Cappella and members of the Assumption Grotto Choir will sing Missa Rosa Mystica by Carnevali, Regina Coeli by Aichinger, Ave Verum by Saint-Saëns, and the Gregorian Propers of the day.

St. Joseph Church is located at 1828 Jay Street in Detroit, across Gratiot from the Eastern Market.

(Please note that this First Friday Tridentine Mass is usually held at St. Josaphat Church.)

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

A Solemn High Requiem Mass will be celebrated for the repose of the soul of Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I. at St. John Cantius Church (825 N. Carpenter St., Chicago, 60642). Music for this Mass will be sung by the St. Cecilia Choir.

From the beginning, it was Cardinal George who envisioned that a small community of men founded at a run-down Chicago church would become a flourishing order dedicated to the “Restoration of the Sacred.”

I then picked up a Roku 3 Streaming Media Player (original model), which was reduced due to an enhancement in newer Roku 3's, that I did not need (like voice control).
In the past month, I found myself going to the Roku box and using my over-the-air, free digital TV more frequently than I was my cable TV. I used it only to watch a few channels. Years ago, Comcast shoved me into what was then the Digital 2 package in order to get EWTN. Well, thankfully, EWTN is available for free on the Roku box - live.

Quite honestly, I get better reception of EWTN streaming live through a Roku box than I ever did get through cable TV. I don't know if the movies we see on Saturday nights will be available, as those were not always available on the web. But, I was never a fan of watching those movies split between two Saturday nights, which they always did. So, I didn't watch them. I usually buy the DVD's or look for the movies on Netflix or YouTube.

In any event, this has been a real adventure for me because I knew next to nothing about this. After some friends on Facebook asked questions and wanted to know how it was going for me, I decided to chronicle this particular adventure in a dedicated blog: Cord-Cutting Adventure.

Will I stick to it? Follow me there to find out. I share some details in my first post there so check it out. I'll be sharing what I learn along the way (I have much to learn); and I'll be sharing the ups and downs.

For interesting news items I don't have time to blog on, check out my Twitter Feed: @TeDeumBlog

Saturday, April 4, 2015

This Easter Sunday at 9:30 AM and next Sunday, Divine Mercy, at Noon, Fr. Perrone will be conducting an orchestral Mass he composed (choir and orchestra), in honor of the Sacred Heart. Both of these will be in the context of a Solemn High Mass in the Extraordinary Form (1962 Missal). Next week, the 9:30 AM Mass will be a Latin Novus Ordo as the TLM shifts for that day only, to the Noon slot.

He wrote this Mass a few years ago, but only recently composed the orchestral parts. This is the second Mass he has composed and conducted at Assumption Grotto; the first - Fountain of Beauty - was in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and was heard for Christmas in 2011.

This musical style is quite different from the first. I'm not a trained musician so I cannot explain these things very well, but it reminds me of something written from an earlier period, whereas the first is like some of the more contemporary classical compositions.

What caught my attention the most in this Mass was the Gloria. It was powerful and filled with moments of great majesty. It lifted my heart, inspiring a sense of wonder and awe - precisely what we would expect a Gloria to invoke in a soul.

Can I purchase music from this Mass?

Some ask me in person, and in email or social media about CD's for purchase, but these things require much funding. There are added expenses that go with recording audio for sales purposes - some of it having to do with agreements with the musician union and satisfying other legal requirements. The same goes with uploading. Some do this innocently, with good intentions, using video or audio they capture, without asking Fr. Perrone in advance, but it's not supposed to be done. Potential donors can discuss these things with Fr. Perrone to learn more. I would love to see this particular Mass recorded and cut to CD for distribution. No donation to the Assumption Grotto Choir & Orchestra is too small, but be sure to specify it is for the music program if you should send money. Collection envelopes are set out at every orchestral Mass with a second collection. Your contributions help make it possible for us to hear these kinds of Masses at Assumption Grotto.

Photos from the Monday Dress Rehearsal

Below are some of the photos I took during the dress rehearsal for this Mass, in as much as I could. I too, am limited as to what I can photograph.

They joyful conductor (don't be fooled, as this was a moment of humor between pieces - the conductor face is not there in this photo)

Some men of the bass section...

The Grotto choir takes people of all ages and as long as someone can carry a tune and read some notes, Fr. Perrone is more than glad to find a spot for them. After Divine Mercy might be a good time to join; otherwise, in the fall is the best time. He's always looking to add voices and it's a rare opportunity to sing with an orchestra several times per year, in addition to Sundays at 9:30. He holds practice on Wednesday evenings from 7 - 9, and the choir rehearses on Sunday morning at 9:00, ahead of Mass; then for about 45 minutes after on new material. There is secured parking at all weekend Masses, weeknight Masses, and for most events. I've been going to the parish several times weekly for 10 years now and have never had a problem.

Gerrie Ball, the organist for the 9:30 a.m. Mass and orchestral Masses, uses a mirror to see Fr. Perrone and get his cues.

We have a harp for this Mass. One time, we had a harpsichord in the mix, which was pretty cool. It fascinates me to think about Fr. Perrone writing every note for every voice and instrument - from strings, winds, and pipes - to a number of instruments in the percussion section.

Some of the Sopranos with one alto sneaking under the hap.

Some tenors!

Altos! That was my section when I was in choir. I had to take leave for a while and have been focusing on my photography, among other things. Some choir members will come for the fall to prepare for Christmas, then take a break. Others remain around the year. The main break is during July when Fr. Perrone takes his vacation.

If this young chorister had access to a harp and harp lessons, I think she would be in heaven. She only took her eyes off the hands of the harpist when singing.

Fr. Perrone fields a question from a member of the orchestra.

This was taken at the conclusion of a very peaceful ending to one segment.

This is a very grainy photo, but it was very dark and a high ISO had to be used. The choir was seated as the orchestra went over some details.

Friday, April 3, 2015

We adore you, O Christ, and we Bless You. Because by Your Holy Cross You have Saved the World

In this post are a few images from Good Friday at Assumption Grotto. I had taken video of the Veneration of the Cross, but there are sound issues. I'll work with it after Easter to see what I can do.

Here is one video clip of the hymn, Adoramus Te, Christe (DuBois). Several babies joined the choir (a nice 'problem' to have in any parish) and there is other noise like a breeze coming through a nearby window, clunking and clanking noises, etc. This video was never intended to be professional; rather, the intent is only to give you an idea of what Holy Week is like at the parish.

I have video of the procession, but am still adjusting to the new Rode Stereo VideoMic Pro that I got for sound. This time, I tried boosting the sound, but it came at the price of hearing the autofocus throughout. I'm going to try to salvage what I can and play with it in post-processing to see what I can do. I may need to replace the sound with just music in places. I won't have time to play with it until after Easter, so check back. Taking video meant no pictures this year of the procession. But, I had photos last year that were quite good.

The altar boys came into church just after 10:00 for a while.

Several of the Missionaries of Charity from the other side of Detroit came around 10:00 PM, as they do every year.

Thursday, April 2, 2015

After the Mass of the Lord's Supper, there is a Eucharistic Procession to the Altar of Repose. The way is paved with rose petals by children. The parish church falls silent as people come and go through midnight, spending time before the tabernacle holding Our Lord at the side altar. Won't you watch one hour with Him?

Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron

St. John of the Cross

Dark Night of the Soul (2.2:3)...

"...the devil causes many to believe in vain visionsand false prophecies; and strives to make them presumethat God and the saints are speaking with them; and they often trust their own fancy. And the devil is also accustomed, in this state, to fill them with presumption and pride, so that they become attracted by vanity and arrogance, and allow themselves to be seen engaging in outward acts which appear holy, such as raptures and other manifestations. Thus they become bold with God, and lose holy fear, which is the key and the custodian of all the virtues; and in some of these souls so many are the falsehoods and deceits which tend to multiply, and so inveterate do they grow, that it is very doubtful if such souls will return to the pure road of virtue and true spirituality."